9 June 2019 – World Swallowtail Day

Swallowtails are the most spectacular butterflies in the world, but also some of the most threatened!

World Swallowtail Day is a chance for us all to help save and protect them for future generations.

Join World Swallowtail Day and show that you care!

WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE WE FACE?

Swallowtails are much-loved around the world, but far too many are now under threat, confined to fast-disappearing wild places as far apart as the fenlands of East Anglia and the rainforests of Jamaica. Climate change, deforestation, agriculture and pollution erode their habitats day by day.

Dozens of species continue to be hunted down in the wild, illegally exported and sold for high prices on the international market. Some, such as the Homerus Swallowtail are on the brink of extinction.

The Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust is supporting conservation programmes in the UK, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and Australia, but we need your help to create more local programmes and to support our international projects. That’s why we are promoting World Swallowtail Day!

WHAT WILL WE DO?

World Swallowtail Day will draw people of all ages together on or about the second Sunday in June to do two things:

Get closer to swallowtails by visiting them in their natural habitats, studying them in sustainably managed butterfly houses, botanical and zoological gardens, or by learning more about them in the company of experts in universities, schools, museums and research centres;

Raise financial and volunteer support to help swallowtails in need both locally and globally.

Internationally we are focusing this year on the Homerus Swallowtail, the largest butterfly in the western hemisphere, found only in the mountain forests of Jamaica and reduced to two small and isolated populations. Together with partners on the ground we will work out a conservation strategy and action plan to bring this amazing species back from the brink. Locally in the United Kingdom, our focus is on the British Swallowtail, now confined to breeding in a few reedbeds at risk from rising sea-levels.

HOW CAN YOU TAKE PART?

Organisations with an interest in butterflies everywhere are joining World Swallowtail Day with launch events across the world. With the help of local champions and social media, we can raise awareness, adopt a local species, support an international goal and save the swallowtails!

WHAT WILL WE PROVIDE?

In support of World Swallowtail Day, the Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust will provide all registered organisations with a comprehensive Resource Pack, including a range of online resource materials to help plan and execute your event.
The Resource Pack will include:

A bespoke World Swallowtail Day brand, banner and poster

Detailed information on the swallowtail family and their conservation needs

Information on international projects and how you can support them

Ideas about regional species in need that can be adapted to your local opportunities

A portfolio of art and photographs for producing posters, postcards and greetings cards

A children’s colouring book of endangered butterflies to print and distribute locally

A press release that can be adapted to your local needs and made available to the media

A bespoke section of the SBBT website for copies of your reports, photographs and videos.

All these materials will be free of copyright to all who register!

WHAT DO WE ASK FOR IN RETURN?

There is no charge for taking part in this initiative. All we ask is that you organise an event to celebrate World Swallowtail Day, reach out to as many people as possible and raise funds for a local project and for our international campaign target, the Homerus Swallowtail. Contributions can easily be made, including through PayPal.

The second Sunday in June may not suit everyone, but if this is the case, just choose another day! The important thing is to join in!

We invite you to register your event with the Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust and mention our work in your campaign.

We will provide a prominent World Swallowtail Day area on our website www.sbbt.org.uk to contain information and reports on the events. Up to 500 words plus two photos or a short video of your event will serve as a record and inspire others in years to come.

The Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust, UK charity number 1174142, aims to conserve and protect members of the Papilionidae, a worldwide family of more than 560 species. We achieve this by raising financial resources, convening networks and partnerships, catalysing action and providing scientific and technical support to conservation projects. For more information see our website www.sbbt.org.uk and sign up for our newsletter Papilio!

REGISTRATION FORM

Contact Person Name and Title:

Email:

Mobile:

Organisation Name:

Website:

Address:

Short Description/Title of Planned Activity:

Yes, my organisation would like to take part in World Swallowtail Day on 9 June 2019 and help to conserve swallowtail butterflies around the world. We agree to include appropriate attribution to the Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust in line with design elements to be provided to us, and to provide a short, publishable report once the event is completed.

Electronic Signature:

Date:

Please copy, complete and save this form and return it by email to info@sbbt.org.uk with “WSD Registration” in the subject heading. We will acknowledge your registration and add your name to the SBBT Newsletter list for future updates. Information provided to us will never be shared with third parties. For details see our Privacy Policy.

Thank you!

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Latest News

Two Master’s students, Susie Hills and Hamish Lillywhite are starting work on the conditions needed by the British Swallowtail and its foodplant, Milk-parsley, in East Anglia’s fens. Their projects are a direct result of our 2017 workshop, the first step in a partnership between SBBT and the University of East Anglia’s School of Biological Sciences.

John Parnell, a retired entomologist who developed a passion for the magnificent Homerus Swallowtail when he worked as a lecturer in Jamaica, has agreed to take up an honorary position spearheading SBBT’s work on the species. John joins the Trust as our vital conservation work to rescue the species continues.

SBBT is delighted to announce World Swallowtail Day, taking place this year on Sunday 9th June. All are welcome to register their local event or come to Wheatfen Reserve in Norfolk for the global launch. Reserves, zoos, butterfly houses and botanical gardens worldwide will join hands to celebrate swallowtails and birdwings and help us to promote conservation projects.

Useful Links

OUR APPEAL

Swallowtails and birdwings are beautiful and graceful butterflies – who wouldn’t love to see them dancing in the sunlight or sipping nectar from wildflowers? But many species are under threat from agriculture, forestry and climate change. We have ideas, enthusiasm and a vision for the future. Will you help us to achieve our goals?

GIVING

Financial contributions are welcome and will be treasured. We also need your ideas, new information, suggestions and encouragement!